The Decline of the Essayist

To continue with the theme of last week’s post, lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing. When I was pregnant I thought about it a ton, too, trying to figure out ways to streamline my business—the old cliché of working smarter, not harder. I’d ask myself loads of questions about whether I should be taking on more corporate writing projects with fancy titles like Creative Director of Brand Copy with the hopes of bloated paychecks to match, or continue on my editorial path that I so do love from a creative standpoint, but often wouldn’t be associated with a lucrative salary.

It was also around this time when I was really trying to figure out what I was trying to say with the danapop space alongside my editorial assignments at paying publications. At its core, my writing has always been a series of personal essays. They say we read how we write, so I’ve always gravitated towards non-fiction writers. Right now, I’m finally reading this on my Kindle. It’s been a lovely escape, as good books always are. Which is what I’ve always wanted my site to be, a slice of life. My life.

Last month, I stumbled across this article in the New Republic about the essay as reality television. This is a topic of our generation and the piece is absolutely incredible. It’s essentially saying that today’s best writers are caught in the trap of embellishing true stories and some do it exceptionally well (David Sedaris), while others are far less believable (Davy Rothbart) in their writing. Even before I read the piece, I often thought of what writers of decades past would think of today’s business of writing. How would they feel about social media? Or self-publishing? The decline of the newspaper industry? The speed in which articles are written? The non-existent role of a fact-checker? The fluffing of reality for the sake of a better story?

What would Hemingway Do? #WWHD

The Pop Five

I had a busy week with meetings and events almost every night, making me really ready for a Friday night filled with Homeland (so good!) on Netflix and homemade pizza. Here are the things that topped my week.

I’m finally reading this article. (I know I’m about a month behind!) It’s quite long, but I’d at least like to try to better grasp the heath care situation in this country and arming myself with knowledge is a good start.

These shelves finally got hung yesterday and I cannot wait to style over the weekend. I’ll do a full before and after post next week, so you can see the remarkable difference (and in the meantime I’ll clean the clutter)!

I met girlfriends out this week for a springtime catch up. It was heaven to talk for several uninterrupted hours about boys, babies, work, travel, and everything in-between. Plus, we did it at a really fantastic new Indian spot in Decatur, Chai Pani. I liked it so much Dan and I will be going again this weekend!

Image: Courtesy of Chai Pani

On Wednesday, designmom.com did a great piece on Stefan Sagmeister. I remember watching his TED talk back in 2009 and being so moved by his message of the power of time off. Brilliant man.

I’ve always been obsessed with vintage typewriters. So, it goes without saying that I love this jewelry line fashioned out of keys from Petite V. Now, the question is, do I get a D for my love, Dan, or an M for sweet baby Margaret?

Dive In

Tuesday’s piece was pretty heavy. Let’s lighten things up with this video about a diver’s adventures in his red Speedo that I spotted on swiss-miss.com. Because, sometimes you just need to dive in and swim for a bit.

The Pop Five

Margaret is four months old today, which seems incredibly hard to believe. She’s growing by leaps and bounds, both mentally and physically, daily, it seems. Here are the things that topped my week.

Yesterday, the DVF and Roxy collaboration capsule went on sale. Oh my goodness, this designer beachwear collection was made for me.

I’ve been rocking the lob (long bob) haircut for a couple of years now. It’s nice to see that E! News is touting it as the hairstyle of the moment.

My smart, older sister, Susan, is quoted in scientific journals a lot for her job, but I finally get to read something in the mainstream press. Here, she’s quoted in the March issue of Whole Foods magazine, talking about digestive support supplements; making the rest of us in the family look like absolute dummies.

Have you done YogaGlo? I recently heard about this concept and I’m kinda fascinated by it. It’s essentially yoga through Skype. At less than $20 a month, loads of classes to choose from, and a 15-day free trial, it sounds super affordable and convenient.

On Monday, we delivered all our tax documents to our accountant. I know, death and taxes are inevitable, but phew, that always feels like such an accomplishment to get the books sorted for the year.

Image: via Curated Encouragement/Pinterest

The Pop Five

This is always a tough week for me. My father passed away 12 years ago today and the week leading up to the day of his death is always a bit melancholy. Margaret has changed some of that, for certain, since last year at this time I was just finding out that she was growing in my belly. It wasn’t all emo around my house – here are the things that topped my week.

Last night, one of my favorite food bloggers, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, held an event in Atlanta. She signed copies of her cookbook after an endearing Q&A session where she chatted about everything from organizing a tiny kitchen, to her creative process. So fun.

I’m obsessed with the new baby clothing line, Cradle & Thread, created by a couple in Atlanta. Not only are they making incredibly simple (yet adorable) separates (think back to basics oh-so soft cotton, hats, bibs, blankets, onesies, cardigans, and pants all in solid prints and sweet colors) it is so much more than that. For every $100 of merchandise sold, Cradle & Thread donates a full outfit of clothing to a family in need. How great is that?

Like many of you, my inbox is flooded with daily flash sales – Gilt, Zulily, Very Jane, and a slew of others. Well, now there’s one more that I’m likely the last person on the planet to discover … Joss & Main. The site is all about home furnishings and already I’ve spotted rugs, lighting, and outdoor seating that I’d love to have live in our little bungalow.

While I’ve loved every stage so far with Margaret (the dazed and confused, puffy newborn face that only lasted for a few days was particularly cute). I cannot wait for her to start talking because her sweet baby babble of late makes me think she just has so many interesting things to say. My friend, Kenn, clued me into this clip with Mister John and his mishap with sprinkles. He told me to be careful what I wish for because Margaret could start lying through her teeth (err sprinkle-filled mouth). Until that happens I’ll just stare at this photo of my lovely sleeping gal looking so very peaceful.

My favorite cocktail is a Pimm’s Cup and I have no idea why I never make them at home. This week, I finally bought a bottle to mix up something delicious for evening happy hours at our house.

Small World

It’s a tough transition to go from posting about gorgeous ceramic pieces to writing about the war in Afghanistan. Thankfully, I don’t produce television news segments any longer, because in that former life I’d have to bridge the gap more smoothly than this.

Years ago, a friend of mine wrote a piece about being in combat during the holidays. You can reread it here. Well, his Marine unit is featured in a documentary by Ben Anderson called Mission Accomplished? Secrets of Helmand, and it aired last week on BBC One. Unfortunately, I do not get that channel, so this online version will have to do.

Also, Vice’s outstanding work with Anderson can be seen here. This is real journalism folks, and Anderson is one of the best reporters of our generation.

The Pop Five

We have very little plans this weekend, which couldn’t suit me more. We’re going to walk this on Sunday (our new weekend ritual) and go to dinner at my cousin’s house tonight. It will be fantastic to catch up with family. Have a lovely weekend!

Hawks, particularly red-tailed ones, fascinated my father and after years of seeing several circle our backyard, one has taken up residence in a tree. Dan finally captured an image of him in all his glory.

I’m obsessed with my friend Jen’s gorgeous accessories company, SOMA Goods. Not only is it all absolutely beautiful, but there’s a much stronger purpose to the line. Each pillow is locally handmade in Atlanta by refugees. Read more about the company philosophy and shop the online store, here.

On President’s Day five years ago our sweet boy, Otis, came to live with us. I’ll never forget it. Dan had the day off for the holiday and when the puppy arrived he reportedly was shaking like a leaf. Otis is the ultimate seat stealer, a toilet paper-eating fool, and one of the great loves of my life. He was the first dog Dan and I have every owned and I’m so very grateful for him choosing us.

I just finished this piece in Sunday’s The New York Times T Magazine on Lee Radziwill’s extraordinary life. It makes me wish I lived in a time where people took great care in everything – from what to wear to styling a home. It seems such a far cry from today’s world of overexposure with tweets and instagrams of a daily existence and people referring to each other as a brand. Radziwill is so incredibly chic. Sigh.

Image: Radziwill at home with her daughter, Tina, in a room designed by Mongiardino in London in 1966. Cecil Beaton/Vogue/Condé Nast

Dan and I had a date night on Saturday night and it was glorious. Pizza, wine, and adult conversations were all shared at the table. To top it all of, we actually came home to a sleeping baby. Pretty perfect.

 

Story Time

For my baby shower, guests were asked to help stock Margaret’s library with their favorite childhood book. For this writer, it makes me so excited to share my love of the written word with my daughter. The book choices that she was given were incredible. Corduroy (which was my husband’s absolute favorite), The Quiet Book, The Story of Ferdinand, Madeline, On the Night You Were Born, Gossie and Gertie, and so many other gems I’ve already started reading to her.

It got me thinking of some of my favorites as a child. I couldn’t get enough of Charlotte’s Web and James and the Giant Peach. I adored Ramona Quimby, and later the Baby Sitter’s Club series, the Wakefield twins in Sweet Valley High, and anything by Judy Blume.

My friend, Kyle, gifted Margaret The Secret Garden, for when she’s older, since it’s a bit mature. It was one I’d never read. Originally published in 1911, it wasn’t until this year that I realized what a treasure it is.

Do books today stand the test of time like those written by E.B. White, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Roald Dahl? Are there books written now that are destined to be classics? Is there anything you’ve read recently that will translate more than a century later?

The Pop Five

This week’s juggling act of writing and Margaret seemed Herculean. Most of the time I feel like I’ve struck the jackpot with a relatively easy baby and a career that’s flexible, but this week tried to make me a liar on both accounts. I’m quite certain Margaret is teething and in a growth spurt, making her what I call, Grumpasaurus Rex. That and I’ve finally come to face the honest fact that I cannot write whenever the whim may strike me, which has pretty much always been the case. As a creative person who really likes to dive into projects, admitting and actually letting go of that freedom is very tough.

We have pretty low-key plans this weekend. We’ll likely watch this, which is about the only Wes Anderson movie I haven’t seen. And my best friend offered to sit for Margaret on Saturday night, so Dan and I will be having our first grown-up date night since October! Here are the highlights from my week.

My friend Liz launched a creative studio in Cincinnati and she’s working on the collateral materials for this fantastic denim company. I just love the vibe I get from both sites.

So these arrived this week. Oh dear. This is gonna get ugly. #elasticwaistband

Petals on morning dog walk.

Margaret is getting into the habit of giving riveting speeches in the middle of the night. The word of my week is orator.

ATL-based the Quiet Hounds celebrate its first anniversary with a live stream performance on February 24. I cannot wait. Find out more at quiethounds.com.

The Pop Five

This weekend our good friend, Scott, is visiting from NYC (as long as the Nor’easter doesn’t wreck the plans). So while Dan and Scott will likely find themselves in drunken scenarios, I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of three reclaimed wood shelves that’ll go in our kitchen and office. Wow, our weekends couldn’t look more different.

We had such a great time at our best friends’ Super Bowl party on Sunday. They did the most fantastic spread—a nacho bar! It was awesome and such a fun idea for hosting a party.

My friend Asha popped by recently with a gift for Margaret and also for me. She gave me the word to your mother pendant from her gorgeous collection. It’s a sweet disc with mom written in nine languages. Tear.

I somehow missed Arrested Development when it originally aired. We’ve been breezing through episodes on Netflix and are pretty much obsessed with the Bluth family. Dan and I find ourselves, saying, “Hey Buddy” to the dog in the tone of Buster’s, “Hey, Brother” and shout Gob’s, “Come On!” almost daily. So far, Motherboy XXX is my favorite episode yet.

© 2003-2004 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

After Margaret was born I stopped going to group meditation, a practice I’ve been doing for several years now. I so missed it, but this article from readwrite.com gives a good overview on a free app designed to help calm the mind.

My mom is ridiculously sweet. She still sends all four of us kids care packages (just like when we were in college) for Valentine’s Day and Easter. This year’s V-Day haul included a candle, a kitchen towel, a bib for Margaret, and loads of so-not-needed chocolate!